Float-actuated work carrier



1, 1955 c. G. CLARK FLOAT-ACTUATED WORK CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1951 INVENTOR. (l/8 76R 6. cumx ATTORNE),

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Nov. 1, 1955 c. G. CLARK FLOAT-ACTUATED WORK CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 24 1951 INVENTOR. (l/ESTER s. cumx.

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United States Patent FLOAT-,ACTUATED WORK CARRIER Chester G. Clark, Detroit, .Mich., assignor to The Udylite Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application March 24, 1951, Serial No. 217,359

2 Claims. (Cl. 204-297) The present invention pertains to a novel float-actuated immersion work carrier for plating baths and the like.

A .diflicult problem exists in the plating of tubular members which are open .at one end and partly or fully closed at the other end. The ideal plating position for such ob- .jects is that in which the open .end is uppermost, :so that the gas will escape from this end. However, when the work piece is lifted from the bath it will retain a quantity of the solution, .and a separate operation is necessary to empty the piece and avoid mixing the solutions. Again, if the piece is immersed w-ith its open end downward so that it will readily empty on being raised, pockets of gas will form in the :upper closed :end :and prevent plating.

The principal object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties by providing a carrier which holds the piece in the ideal plating position in the bath and automatically tips it for emptying when lifted out of the bath. This object is accomplished generally by the use of a pivotally mounted element for carrying the work piece, provided with a float which performs the aforementioned automatic tipping.

The device is so weighted, about its pivot point and with relation to its load, that the open end of the work piece will be disposed downward when out of the bath. This is the initial position before immersion and the emptying position after immersion. During immersion, however, the float in the bath tilts the work supporting element to a position which brings the open end of the work piece up ward, or in the ideal plating position as above set forth.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the same device in immersed position;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of another form of the invention;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of another embodiment in immersed position;

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 8, and

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 is shown a hook I suspended from a cath ode rail (member R) in the usual manner. From the lower end of the hook is rigidly suspended a yoke or inverted U-shaped member 2. The ends of the member 2 pivotally support a pairof work carriers or supports for a single cylindrical member. Each of the latter carriers is a U-shaped member 3 having one of its ends attached to an end of the member 2 by a .pivot pin 4 rotatable in each part. Both members .3 lie entirely between the sides of the member 2, so that a cylindrical work piece can be mounted on the members 3 as will presently be described.

Outside the sides 2, each pivot pin'4 carries a loose ring 5 from which extends an armor lever 6. The members 6 are threaded and lie in a given plane passed through the common axis of the members 4. They .are secured in this relation by .ties 7 joining them permanently to the outer sides of the members 3.

On each of the arms 6 is mounted an adjustable weight 8 held in any desired position by nuts 9 on opposite sides thereof. After the weight and nuts have been assembled, a float 1.0 is secured .on the free or lower end of each member 6. The floats are preferably comprised of hollow stainless steel balls, and a single ball common .to the two arms 6 may he provided instead of two balls if desired.

The herein described devices are designed to support tubular objects which are open at .one end and partially or fully closed .at the other end. If such an object is suspended in the plating bath with the .closed end upward, a gas pocket will form in the .closed end and prevent plating. If it is suspended with the closed end downward, it will not drain completely on being removed from the bath. The invention. provides supporting fixtures that hold the object in the bath with :the closed end downward, which is the more favorable position for plating, and tip the object for drainage when it is removed from the bath.

The object mounted .on the described support is .a .piston 11 having a fully closed end 12. The piston is slipped over the inner sides of the members 3. These sides are provided with outwardly extending fingers 13 which carry a split ring 14 which in turn frictionally engages the inner wall of the piston. The device is so constructed that the mounted piston has its center of gravity in the axis of the members 4, and the weight of the arms 6 and parts carried thereby brings the open end of the piston downward.

When the piston is immersed in the bath, the floats are buoyed up by the solution and swing the arms 6 and attached members 3 upward on the pivots 4, thereby bringing the open end of the piston upward. In this position during plating, the gas escapes from the open end, and no gas pockets are formed. When the work is lifted out of the bath, it resumes the position shown in Figure 1, with the open end downward to permit complete drainage.

A finger 5' extends from one of the rings 5 in line with the arm 6 and engages beneath a pin 6' on the member 2 to limit the downward movement of the floats. Similarly the upward movement is limited by a pin 3 on the member 2 and engageable by the member 3.

The modification shown in Figure 4 discloses the usual hook 15 with an angular bar 16 suspended therefrom at the free end of one of its sides by a pivot pin 17. A number of fingers 18 extend from the member 16 in a given direction, and an arm 19 extends therefrom in the opposite direction with a float 20 carried thereby. Each finger 18 carries a series of equal and concentric split rings 21 held by radial ties 22. The tubular work piece in this case are cartridge shells 23 slipped over the fingers 18 and held by the rings 21.

The balancing of the work carrier with relation to its load is such that the open ends of the shells are brought downward by the weight of the float when the latter is not in the bath, as shown in Figure 4. When the carrier is immersed, the float swings the arm 16 with its load to the shells are upward. When the carrier is lifted out of the bath, it resumes the position shown in Figure 4, and complete drainage of the shells becomes possible.

In the construction shown in Figure 8 the hook suspended from the cathode rail has a relatively long shank or post 25. Work supports are pivotally mounted alternately on opposite sides of the post but extend in the same direction therefrom. Each such carrier is a U-shaped member 26 having a free end pivotally attached to the post by a pin 27. The leg 28 which is more remote from the post carries equal and concentric split rings 29 held by radial ties 30. The cylindrical work piece 31, having a closed end 32, is slipped over the leg 28 and held by the rings 29 as previously described. The leg 28 is prolonged at 33 beyond the back 34 of the U member and carries a float 35.

The work supports and the floats are so weighted as to bring the open ends of the work pieces downward when not immersed. On immersion, the floats bring the open ends upward as previously set forth. On being lifted out of the bath, the weight of the floats brings the open ends downward for complete drainage of the work pieces. The members 26 carry double stops 26' engageable with the post 25 in the upper and lower positions of these members.

A common float for the several work carriers may be provided as shown in Figure 9. The U-shaped carriers 28 are pivotally mounted on a post 25 as previously set forth, and carry the work pieces in like manner. A vertical link is pivotally attached to the back of the members 28' at 37. From a suitable point on the link 36 an arm 38 extends oppositely to the members 28' and carries a float 39. The position of the work pieces in and out of the bath is the same as previously described. One of the members 28 carries a double stop 37 acting against the post 25'.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A work carrier for use in plating baths comprising a support adapted for suspension over a bath, an angular work supporting bar having the free end of one leg pivotally attached to said support and another leg suspended from the first leg, a work supporting finger extending upwardly from and angularly to said second leg and lying transversely of the pivotal axis of the first leg, and a float rigidly secured to said second leg in opposite relation to said finger, said bar, finger and float all lying in a vertical plane perpendicular to said pivotal axis.

2. A work carrier for use in plating baths comprising a support adapted for suspension over a bath, an angular work supporting bar having the free end of one leg pivotally attached to said support and another leg suspended from the first leg, a plurality of work supporting fingers extending upwardly from and angularly to said second leg and lying transversely of the pivotal axis of the first leg, and a float rigidly secured to said second leg in opposite relation to said fingers, said bar, fingers and float all lying in a vertical plane perpendicular to said pivotal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,362,474 Elsenheimer Nov. 14, 1944 2,654,707 Saffel Oct. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 608,462 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Belke Plating Rack Manual, Belke Mfg. Co., 947 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, Illinois, June 18, 1947, page 37. 

1. A WORK CARRIER FOR USE IN PLATING BATHS COMPRISING A SUPPORT ADAPTED FOR SUSPENSION OVER A BATH, AN ANGULAR WORK SUPPORTING BAR HAVING THE FREE END OF ONE LEG PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT AND ANOTHER LEG SUSPENDED FROM THE FIRST LEG, A WORK SUPPORTING FINGER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM AND ANGULARLY TO SAID SECOND LEG AND LYING TRANSVERSELY OF THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF THE FIRST LEG, AND A FLOAT RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID SECOND LEG IN OPPOSITE RELATION TO PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PIVOTAL AXIS. 